Clock



Feb. 1 2,` 1935. F. A. GREENAWALT CLOCK Filed arch 10, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 mam@ Feb. 12, 1935.

F. A. GREENWALT v CLOCK Filed March l0, 1933 5 Sheet.s-Sheerl 2 ATTORNEY Feb. 12, 1935.v l F. A. GREENAWALT 1,990,645

C LOCK Filed March 10, 1933 5 Sheets-Shea?l 5 ATTORNEY Petenred Feb. 12, v193s This application is a CLOCK Freaerlek A. -Greeumm signor, by menne Company, a corporation of t, Pittsburgh. Pa..

FICE e ents, to Pennwood Pennsylvania Application March 10, 1933, Serial No. 660,226 12 Claims. (Cl. 58-125) continuation in part, of-

my co-pending application Serial #599,128 illed March 16, 1932.

My invention relates 5 vices and particularly to An object of my in tively simple and co to time indicating demotor driven clocks.

vention is to provide a relampact form of clock which embodies no dial or hands and which will occupy a minimum amount Another object of of space. my invention is to provide relatively simple and compact' form of clock embodying a plurality-ofl drums located in close side-by-side location gether with drum relatively to each other, to-

driving means located wholly within the drums themselves.

Another object of my invention` is to provide a visible from the front of the clock.

Another object .of

my invention is to provide a drum support that shall be easily and quickly assembled in proper operative position on a base.

a description of one form of device embodying my invention which is shown in which,

Figure 1 is a view in embodying my invention and shown as located in a casing,

Fig. 2 is a view in clock case only, on t clock mechanism elevation. Fig. 3 is a top plan anism of my clock, being shown,

the drawings, in

front elevation of a clock vertical section through the he line II-II of Fig. 1, the

being shown therein in end view of the assembled mecha portion only o f the motor Fig. 4 is a view in front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig.

3 of the drawings,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of a part of the mechanism showing more particularly the base,

a standard thereon, and one of the drums,

Fig. 6 is a vertical line VI-VI o f Fig.

Fig. 7 is an enlarg drum shown in Figs.

of securing the metal Figs. 8, 9, and l0 a sectional view taken on the 5s ed fragmentary view of the 5 and 6 to show the method strips on a drum,

re views showingthree consecutive positions of the means for driving the a ilrst nd 13 drum, and,

consecutive positions of the means for driving the third drum from the second drum.

In practicing my invention I provide a plurality of drums which are located in side-by-side and closely adjacent positions, each drum having a plurality of fiat peripheral faces, the numbers of such faces being in accordance with the time to be indicated thereby. The peripheral length of the dat faces on the diiferent drums is the same,

so that the drums are of different diameters, each drum being so supported that one flat face of a drum is coplanar with a similar flat face of each oi' the other drums. a very small distance The drums are spaced apart and are visible through a single sight opening in a suitable casing.

A single base standards thereon on which the in having a plurality of resilient supports the respective shafts dividual drums may rotate in a step-by-step movement, such movement being initiated by any suitable driving means, preferably a synchronous electric motor having discontinuous engagement with one of the 'I'he clock mecha tuable and visible through the start the clock and to nism is provided with means acsight opening to indicate continuously the operating condition thereof.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of have there illustrated a suitable may be of any t various shapes which can be shape in order pearance. ,The

opening 23 in one wall and sizes either of or of any other material suitable for the drawings, I casing 21 which may be made in metal, wood. such use and ype and which made of ornamental design and to present a pleasing external apis provided with a sight thereof, which opening is casing made as small as is possible consistent with other requirements, which will be hereinafter referred to more specifically. v l

Within the casing 21 there is located a clock mechanism which may be designated generally by the numeral 25 and which is mounted on a base 27 which may be other suitable. m

made either of metal or of some aterial, such as a phenolic condensation product now well known in the art. The base 27 is provided with a at vertically-extending face 29 at one end thereof, against which a driving electric motor assembly 3l may be secured as by small machine screws 33. Inasmuch as the detalls form no part vof it only to such a show its general of construction of the motor 31 my invention, I have illustrated n extent as may be necessary to construction and the manner in are views showing three I which it has been modied by me in accordance with my invention.

The base 27 is further provided with a plurality of resilient arms or standards 35, 37, 39, and 41, which are spaced apart suitable distances. The arms 37 and 39 may be combined with a common lower end portion 43, the lower end of which is unitary with or secured to the top of base 27.

The clock mechanism further includes three drums 45, 47, and 49, each of different diameters and each providedwith a suitable number of flat peripheral faces, whose peripheral lengths are the same for all of the drums. Drum 45 is provided with ten faces, drum 47 is provided with six faces, while drum 49 is provided with twelve faces. As was hereinbefore noted, the peripheral length of the faces is the same, while their axial width may be different, it being noted that drum 45 indicates minutes, drum 47 indicates tens of minutes, while drum 49 indicates hours. The drums 45, V47,7ancl 49 are provided with hubs 51, 53, and 55 respectively, each of relatively great length, thes'e hubs being adapted to turn on shafts 57, 59, and 61 respectively. Reference to Fig. 6 of the drawings will show that shaft 59 is provided with two reduced end portions, one at each' end thereof, these being designated by numerals 63 and 65 respectively. The length of that part of shaft 59 whichis of full diameter is slightly longer than the axial length of hub 53 located thereon, with the result that hub 53 and thedrum. 47 of which it is an integral part will turn freely on shaft 59. The excess lengthof the main part of shaft 59 over hub A53 is on the order of a few thousandths of an inch, so thatwhile the hub 53 `mayturn freely between arms 37 and 39 but little axial movement of the drum on its shaft is possible. The general construction of the other drum hubs and of their supporting shafts is the sarrie as set forth above for drum 47.

As was hereinbefore set forth, the respective arms 35 to 41 inclusive are so designed and constructed as to be resilient, and these arms are each provided with relatively small openings 67 therethrough near their ends for receiving the end portions of reduced diameter of the shafts 57, 59, and 61 respectively. Assembly of the shafts and of the drums mounted thereon in the resilient arms may be easily and quickly effected by inserting one end of a shaft in one ofthe openings 67 and then springing the other cooperating arm through a small distance sufficient to permit entry of the other shaft Vend of reduced diameter in the opening 67 in that arm. It will probably be found best to locate drum 47 and its shaft 59 in arms 37 and 39, afterwhich the two end drums 45 and 49 and their shafts 57 and 61 can be loi cated in the cooperating pairs of arms as `was hereinbefore set forth. The resilient arms will operate to clamp the shaft-s between them, thereby preventing any turning movement of the shafts in their bearings. As the hubs of the respective drums are almost as long as the supporting. shaft on which they respectively rotate, a relatively large bearing surface is provided for the hubs of..

ymotor 31. One end of the hub 51 of drum 45 is provided with a plurality of teeth 73 shown more particularly in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and the relative location of tooth 71 on disc 69 andof the teeth 73 is such that the drum 45 is turned through one tenth of a complete turn once every minute by the action of the continuously operating driving motor means 31.

In order to ensure the proper location of the respective drums during the time when they are stationary, they are severally provided with rccesses in one part of their peripheral structure. Thus drum 45 is provided with ten recesses 75, each of substantially V-shape, on the inside of its peripheral portion and on that side of its central .plane adjacent to the clock mechanism 31 in the assembled structure, or on the same side as are .the teeth 73 on its hub 51. Means cooperating with these recesses to hold the drum 45 in a given position may comprise a spring 77 having one end thereof fixed to the standard 41 or to some other stationary part, while its other end is bent to substantially V-shape so as to enter one of the recesses, the construction and location of this spring being such as to effect the interfit of the free or movable end of the spring .with a recess of V-shape.

The drum 47 is provided with an annulus 79 at one side or face thereof, which annulus is provided with a number of recesses 81, of V-shape, which are selectively engaged by a spring 83 which is of the same general shape as spring 77. Drum 49 is provided with twelve recesses 85, of V-shape, on the inside of its periphery, which recesses are engaged by a spring 87 which is of the samegeneral shape as springs 77 and 83. It may be noted that these springs serve not only to hold the respective. drums in fixed positions, but that they serve also as means for aiding the turning step-by-step movements of the drums. It is obvious that some pressure must be brought to bear upon a drum to cause one of the recesses thereof to be disengaged from its positioning spring and further, that the free end of the spring will move into the next recess with a quick motion.

It has already been hereinbefore set forth that the drum 45 indicating minutes, is actuated by means of the cam 69 to move in steps in its turning motion. The inner periphery of drum 45 is provided at that side thereof opposite to that in which the recesses are located with a single lug 89 which lug is adapted to engage selectively and in sequence one of a plurality of six lugs 91 located on the adjacent side of drum 47. 'Ihe paths of movement of the single lug 89 on drum 45 and of any one of the plurality of lugs 91 on drum 47 are illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, and 10. It will be noted that the radius of the circular path of lug 89 is much larger than is the radius of the circular paths of lugs 91. Itis of course necessary that the drum 47 be moved through the same length of arc as is drum 45, because of the fact that the peripheral length of the fiat faces on all the drums is the same.

Fig. 8 shows the relative positions of y.driving lug 89 on drum 45 and of one of the driven lugs 91 on drum 47 at the instant when lug 89 has just been moved into engagement with lug 91. Fig. 9 shows the relative positions of the two lugs at that instant of time when both drums have been moved through substantially one half of their step-bystep arcuate turning movement, and it will be noted that lug 89 has been sliding against the Aeo adjacent face of lug 91 engaged by it, in an out- 'movement of drum 47 45 and 47 and of the lugs 89 and 91 at the instant of time when both through their step-by-step motion and are again held stationary lby the spring means described i above. It will be noted that lug 89 has moved in an outwardly direction relatively to lug 91. I wish to point out here that the relative radial dimensions of lugs 89 and 91 and their locations on the respective drums are such as to cause a turning through one sixth of its periphery while drum 45 is turned through one tenth of its periphery.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. l1, 12, and, 13 of the drawings, I have there illustrated the paths of movement of the means which I have provided for driving drum ,49 in a step-by-step turning movement by drum 47. 'I'hat facev of drum 47 adjacent to drum 49 is provided with a laterally eiitending lug 93,"whioh may be a part of annular member 79, as is `shown more particularly in Fig. of the drawings, The general shape of the tip of the lug 93 in vertical section is trian hereinafter described.

guiar for a purpose to be y 'I'he inner face of the periphery of drum 49 is provided with twelve angularly extending lugs 95, on that side of the cen ral plane of the drum adjacent to drum 47.

Fig. 1l of the drawings shows the relative positions of lug 93 on drum'47 and of one ofthe lugs 95 on drum 49, these Ipositions being the ones occupied by these two members just prior to a turning movement of the two drums. It may be noted that the lug 93 has a line engagement only with the adjacent face of lug 95. In this case the radius of lug 93 is only one half that of the radius `of lug 95, or substantially so, so that lug 93 will move inwardly relatively to lug 95, and this condition is shown more particularly in Fig. 12 of the drawings where it will be noted that one sharp edge of lug 93 is in engagement with the adjacent face of lug 95 at a point `closer to the axis oi' the shaft on which drum 49 is supported than it was in the position shown in Fig. 1l.

Fig. 13 shows the relative positions of the lug 93 and the lug 95 which was engaged thereby during the turning movement of the two drums, and

it will be noted .that the two lugs are, now disen gaged from each other, lug 93 moving inside of the inner end face of lug 95 because of the much smaller radius of its circular path of movement relatively Ato that of lug 95. It is thus evident that I have provided means for actuating any subsequent drum from a preceding drum by means which interengage at only one time in the course of a turning movement of the two drums, which means is located entirely within the contour of the drums not only radially, but also axially thereof, the latter condition particularly making it possible tcvlocate the drums in closelyadjacent side-by-side positions relatively to each other. f

It is to be noted further that the dimensions, shape, and location of the respective driving and driven lugs on the inside of the plurality of drums must be selected with great care and precision in order that a drum having ten peripheral hat faces, each of a. certain length, may actuate a drum having only six peripheral at faces of the same length, and further that the drum having the six flat Iperipheral faces shall properly actuate a drum having twelve such faces of the same peripheral length, in suchmann'er that the angular turning movement of each drum shall be inversely in accordance with the number of faces on its peripheral surface. This action follows o! have been moved course from the fact that the drums are-provided with polygonal flat faces each of the same peripheral length. The drums are therefore of different diameters, and in order that one face of each drum Shall be coplanar with a similar face of the other drums at one place only, the supporting shafts must be located at dierent horizontal distances from the sight opening 23 in one wall of the casing 2l.

Each of the 4drums is provided with a strip of relatively thin material thereon, these strips beingl shown in side view in Fig. 2 of the drawings where I have indicated them by numerals 97 and 99, strip 97 being located on drum 49 and strip 99 being located on drum 45. These strips are not shown in Figs. 4 and 5 for the sake of clearness. I prefer to `use strips of relatively thin material upon which to imprint, etch, or otherwise apply the proper numerals. On the outer surface of the strip associated with drum 45 there will be located the numerals 0 to 9, while the strip on drum 47 will have the numerals 0 to 5, and the strip on drum 49 will have the numerals 1 to 12 thereon. Theends of a strip are located in a slot 101 provided at one corner of the polygonal peripheral surface of a drum. Reference to Fig. 6 of the drawings will show 'that I provide two enlarged end portions 103 and 105, one at each axial edge of the peripheral portion of a drum and at the axial ends of a slot 101. 'I'hat part of a strip which fits into one ofthe enlarged end portions is spread by some suitable means, such as a small punch, whereby the opposed corners of each strip end portion are spaced apart. This interfitting engagement of a strip, and particularly of its end portions, with a drum prevents any axial movement of alstrip relatively to the drum on which it is mounted. The use of these strips not only reduces the cost of the drums, but permits also the use'of any style of numerals thereon.

In all of the electrically driven clock mechanisms with which I-am familiar, it is necessary to adjust the mechanism, and to start the same, where manual starting is required, from the rear of the mechanism which means some turning movement of the clock on its support when it is normally set up i front of 'a wall or other surface. In order t overcome this I provide a circular member 107 which may be in the shape of a disc having a knurled periphery operatively associated with some part of either the driving mechanism or of the time-indicating mechanism proper. In this case I have shown it as applied to a shaft of the motor assembly and it is only necessary to give member 107 a short quick downward movementlby the finger of an bperator in order to start the motor, this of course-being based on the supposition that the motor is not self starting.

The sight opening 23 is covered by a suitable bezel which includes a hollow frame 109, which may be substantially rectangular in contour, and which is located in front of and over the sight opening 23. A smallerpiece pf sheet material 111 provided with a smaller sight opening 113 therein is clamped against the front face of casing 21 and in front of sight opening 23 by ing such that only one face of each drum shall be visible in order to veryV sharply define the face of the respective drums visible to an observer.

The bezel 4109 .has a transparent member 117 such as glass located therein, which member may be held by a suitable frame 119 Within the bezel 109, provisions (not shown) being made to permit of removing members 117 and 119 whenever required in order to either start the clock or to reset the drums after such restarting. Attention is drawn particularlyy to Fig. 1 of the drawings where I have indicated that member 107 is visible from the front of the casing thro-ugh a suitable opening in member 111 at one side of the three drums. The knurled or toothed periphery of member 107 rotates continuously with the motor and indicates continuously whether cr not the clock is operating. It is further obvious that the clock mechanism can be set for the proper or correct instantaneous time by opening the window including the glass 117 and its holder 1l9, as by a tab or lug 121 (see Fig. 1), after which the clcck can be started by a quick downward movement of the projecting rim portion of member 107 and the clock can then be set for the correct time indication by individual turning movements of the three drums in either direction, each independently of the other, until the correct indication as to time is attained.

The device embodying my invention thus provides a motor driven clock mechanism which is composed of a minimum number of cooperating parts, so located relatively to each other as to take up a minimum amount of space and in which the means for driving a subsequent drum by a preceding drum shall be simple and be located within the contour of -the drums both axially and radially thereof. The drum peripheries are respectively polygonal in shape, each drum having a different number of flat faces thereon, the peripheral length of the ilat faces on the different drums being the same. The diameters of the respective drums are therefore different, and particular means, eiective for the desired purpose, are provided so that the turning movement of one drum through an arc equal to substantially the length of one of its flat faces shall cause a turning movement of the next drum driven by it, through substantially the same peripheral movement, which however, means a different-amount of angular movement.

The shafts of the respective drums are friotionally clamped between the standards in which they are mounted and are thereby precluded from substantial turning movement as the drums rotate thereon. Each drum is therefore provided with a single bearing member of relatively great length. and as the drums are either made of a light metal or of some composition which can be molded, they are of relatively light weight and the wear between the shaft and the hub is very y small. thus insuring a long life of the clock.

the cooperation of the parts of the mechanism provided for that purpose.

While I have illustrated and described .one form of device embodying my invention now preferred by me, I do not desire to be limited thereto, and the scope of the appended claims are to be construed in accordance with the prior art only.

I claim as my invention:

1. A time indicating device including a drum having a flat-sided polygonal periphery, an ax-v ially-extending slot in the periphery and a strip having indices thereon encircling the drum and having its end portions extending into the slot to hold the strip tightly on the drum, the end portions of the slot having'lateral recesses, the end portions of the strip being interlocked with said recesses.

2. A time indicating deviceincluding a plurality cf rotatable drums in close side-by-side position, each drum having a different number of flat faces with numerals thereon which cooperate to indicate the time, means for supporting the drums so that one face of one drum shall be coplanar with one face of each of the other drums. all said faces being of equal peripheral length, and means or driving a succeeding drum by a preceding drum in step-by-step movements, said means including lugs on the inner faces of respective adjacent drumswhose paths of rotative movement coincide at one time only in the course of one turn of the drums. Y

3. A time indicating device including a plurality of rotatable drums in clcse side-by-side positions, each drum having a different number of fiat faceswith numerals thereon which cooperate to indicate the time all said faces being of equal peripheral length, means for supporting the drums so that one face of one drum shall be coplanar with cne face of each of the other drums and means for driving a succeeding drum by a preceding drum in step-by-step movements, said means comprising a lug on one drum extending laterally to a position within an adjacent drum, said vlatter drum having a series of spaced lugs extending at an angle to the inner face thereof. y 4. A device as set'forth,in"c1aim 3 in which the cooperatingA lugs slide one on the other in c-ne radial direction only while in driving engagement. Y

5. A time indicating device including a base, three spaced standards thereon, the two end standards each having one bearing, the intermediate standard being bifurcated at its outer end and providing bearings in each bifurcation, three shafts supported in said bearings and drums rotatably mounted on the respective shafts in close side-by-side positions, each bifurcation of the intermediate standard extending axially within an end drum.

6. A time indicating device including a plurality of rotatable polygonal drums each having a different number of faces, the peripheral length of the faces on the different drums being the same and means for supporting said drums in close side-by-side positions with one face on a drum coplanar with a face on each of the other drums, said means including two' spaced end standards outside of the end drums and a bifurcated intermediate standard, the respective bifurcations being located axially within the outlines of an end drum. V'

7. A device as set -forth in claim 2 in which one of said lugs extends laterally from ore drum to a position within the adjacent drum and the other of said lugs extends angularly inwardly relatively to the surface of the drum.

8. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein one drum is provided with a series of driven lugs and the adjacent drum is provided with a single lug, the series of lugs and .the single lug being overlapped at a point displaced laterally from the plane separating the adjacent drums.

9. A time indicating device including a plurality of drums of different diameters all located in close side-by-side relation and being positioned relatively to permit corresponding points of the several drum faces to align along a horizontal line, actuating means for moving certain of said drums by a first drum, said means being located entirely within the drums, said means vcomprising a single lug extending laterally from certain of said drums and to a point within an adjacent drum, a series of lugs extending radially inwardly from the inner face of the adjacent drum, said single lug being positioned to contact and move each lug of the series in successionwhereby to rotate one drum intermittently by its adjacent drum 10. A time indicating device comprising a casing, a single sight opening therein, a pluralty of closely adjacent drums rotatably mounted in the casing 'and having different numbers of at peripheral faces of equal peripheral length thereon, means to support the drums so\that corresponding fiat faces will align with each other and extend coplanar in rear of the sight opening, means v to rotate certain of said drums from an adjacent drum, said means comprising a single lug extending laterally from one drum and to a point within an adjacent drum, a series of lugs extending radially inwardly from the inner face of the adjacent drum in positions to be contacted in sequence by said single lug during each revolution of the latter by its related drum.

11. A time indicating device including a plurality of adjacent drums of different diameters and having different numbers of flat peripheral faces of equal peripheral length, means to drive one of said drums from an adjacent driving drum, said means comprising a series of lugs extending radially inwardly from an inner face of the driven drum, the driving drum being provided with a correspondingly arranged driving lug and positioned to engage said series of lugs in sequence, the relative lengths of said driving lug and the other lugs being so iixed that movement of each lug of the series by contact with the driving lug will rotate the driven drum suiiiciently to cause a peripheral face thereon to align with a peripheral face of the driving drum.

12. In a device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the faces of adjacent drums are lpositioned Aclosely adjacent each other,.the lug or lugs on one drum extending laterally therefrom to a point within the other drum whereby to permit the close positioning of said drums.

FREDERICK A. GREENAWALT. 

